Capacitor structure including patterned conductive layer disposed between two electrodes and manufacturing method thereof

ABSTRACT

A capacitor structure includes an insulation layer and a capacitor unit disposed on the insulation layer. The capacitor unit includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a first dielectric layer, and a patterned conductive layer. The second electrode is disposed above the first electrode in a vertical direction. The first dielectric layer is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode in the vertical direction. The patterned conductive layer is disposed between first electrode and the second electrode, the patterned conductive layer is electrically connected with the first electrode, and the first dielectric layer surrounds the patterned conductive layer in a horizontal direction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a capacitor structure and amanufacturing method thereof, and more particularly, to a capacitorstructure including a patterned conductive layer disposed between twoelectrodes and a manufacturing method thereof.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In modern society, the micro-processor systems composed of integratedcircuits (ICs) are applied popularly in our living. Many electricalproducts, such as personal computers, mobile phones, and homeappliances, include ICs. With the development of technology and theincreasingly imaginative applications of electrical products, the designof ICs tends to be smaller, more delicate and more diversified.

In the recent electrical products, IC devices, such as metal oxidesemiconductor (MOS) transistors, capacitors, or resistors, are producedfrom silicon based substrates that are fabricated by semiconductormanufacturing processes. A complicated IC system may be composed of theIC devices electrically connected with one another. Generally, acapacitor structure may be composed of a top electrode, a dielectriclayer, and a bottom electrode. The capacitor structure is traditionallydisposed in an inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layer on a silicon basedsubstrate and includes a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitorstructure.

However, as the function and performance demands of electronic productscontinue to increase, the complexity and integration of integratedcircuits have also increased relatively. Therefore, how to integrate thecapacitor structure and the manufacturing methods of other components(such as transistors) and/or integrate structural design to meet productrequirements has always been the research direction of the relatedfields.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A capacitor structure and a manufacturing method thereof are provided inthe present invention. A dielectric layer and a patterned conductivelayer are disposed between two electrodes of a capacitor unit, and thedielectric layer surrounds the patterned conductive layer forsimplifying related manufacturing processes of the capacitor unit andimproving process integration between the capacitor unit and othersemiconductor units.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a capacitorstructure is provided. The capacitor structure includes an insulationlayer and a capacitor unit, and the capacitor unit is disposed on theinsulation layer. The capacitor unit includes a first electrode, asecond electrode, a first dielectric layer, and a patterned conductivelayer. The second electrode is disposed above the first electrode in avertical direction. The first dielectric layer is disposed between thefirst electrode and the second electrode in the vertical direction. Thepatterned conductive layer is disposed between first electrode and thesecond electrode. The patterned conductive layer is electricallyconnected with the first electrode, and the first dielectric layersurrounds the patterned conductive layer in a horizontal direction.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a manufacturingmethod of a capacitor structure is provided. The manufacturing methodincludes the following steps. A capacitor unit is formed on aninsulation layer. The capacitor unit includes a first electrode, asecond electrode, a dielectric layer, and a patterned conductive layer.The second electrode is disposed above the first electrode in a verticaldirection. The dielectric layer is disposed between the first electrodeand the second electrode in the vertical direction. The patternedconductive layer is disposed between first electrode and the secondelectrode. The patterned conductive layer is electrically connected withthe first electrode, and the dielectric layer surrounds the patternedconductive layer in a horizontal direction.

These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt becomeobvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiment that isillustrated in the various figures and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing illustrating a capacitor structureaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2-7 are schematic drawings illustrating a manufacturing method ofa capacitor structure according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, wherein FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing in a step subsequent toFIG. 2 , FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing in a step subsequent to FIG. 3 ,FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing in a step subsequent to FIG. 4 , FIG. 6 isa schematic drawing in a step subsequent to FIG. 5 , and FIG. 7 is aschematic drawing in a step subsequent to FIG. 6 .

FIG. 8 is a schematic drawing illustrating a manufacturing method of acapacitor structure according to another embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic drawing illustrating a capacitor structureaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic drawing illustrating a capacitor structureaccording to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic drawing illustrating a capacitor structureaccording to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention has been particularly shown and described withrespect to certain embodiments and specific features thereof. Theembodiments set forth herein below are to be taken as illustrativerather than limiting. It should be readily apparent to those of ordinaryskill in the art that various changes and modifications in form anddetail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of thepresent invention.

Before the further description of the preferred embodiment, the specificterms used throughout the text will be described below.

The terms “on,” “above,” and “over” used herein should be interpreted inthe broadest manner such that “on” not only means “directly on”something but also includes the meaning of “on” something with anintermediate feature or a layer therebetween, and that “above” or “over”not only means the meaning of “above” or “over” something but can alsoinclude the meaning it is “above” or “over” something with nointermediate feature or layer therebetween (i.e., directly onsomething).

The ordinal numbers, such as “first”, “second”, etc., used in thedescription and the claims are used to modify the elements in the claimsand do not themselves imply and represent that the claim has anyprevious ordinal number, do not represent the sequence of some claimedelement and another claimed element, and do not represent the sequenceof the manufacturing methods, unless an addition description isaccompanied. The use of these ordinal numbers is only used to make aclaimed element with a certain name clear from another claimed elementwith the same name.

The term “etch” is used herein to describe the process of patterning amaterial layer so that at least a portion of the material layer afteretching is retained. When “etching” a material layer, at least a portionof the material layer is retained after the end of the treatment. Incontrast, when the material layer is “removed”, substantially all thematerial layer is removed in the process. However, in some embodiments,“removal” is considered to be a broad term and may include etching.

The term “forming” or the term “disposing” are used hereinafter todescribe the behavior of applying a layer of material to the substrate.Such terms are intended to describe any possible layer formingtechniques including, but not limited to, thermal growth, sputtering,evaporation, chemical vapor deposition, epitaxial growth,electroplating, and the like.

Please refer to FIG. 1 . FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing illustrating acapacitor structure 101 according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 1 , the capacitor structure 101 includes aninsulation layer 22 and a capacitor unit CP. The capacitor unit CP isdisposed on the insulation layer 22, and the capacitor unit CP includesa first electrode BE, a second electrode TE, a first dielectric layerDL1, and a patterned conductive layer 34P. The second electrode TE isdisposed above the first electrode BE in a vertical direction (such as afirst direction D1 shown in FIG. 1 ). The first dielectric layer DL1 isdisposed between the first electrode BE and the second electrode TE inthe first direction D1, and the patterned conductive layer 34P isdisposed between first electrode BE and the second electrode TE. Thepatterned conductive layer 34P is electrically connected with the firstelectrode BE, and the first dielectric layer DL1 surrounds the patternedconductive layer 34P in a horizontal direction (such as a seconddirection D2 shown in FIG. 1 or other directions perpendicular to thefirst direction D1). By disposing the patterned conductive layer 34P, apart of the patterned conductive layer 34P may be removed for forming agap between the first electrode BE and the second electrode TE, and thefirst dielectric layer DL1 may be disposed in the gap for forming thecapacitor unit CP. Therefore, the manufacturing process of the capacitorunit CP may be integrated with a manufacturing process of a dielectriclayer in other components (such as transistors) for improving the designflexibility of related structure integration and/or manufacturingprocess integration.

In some embodiments, the first direction D1 described above may beregarded as a thickness direction of the insulation layer 22. Theinsulation layer 22 may have a top surface TS and a bottom surface BSopposite to the top surface TS in the first direction D1, and thecapacitor unit CP may be disposed at a side of the top surface TS, butnot limited thereto. Horizontal directions substantially orthogonal tothe first direction D1 (such as the second direction D2 shown in FIG. 1and other directions perpendicular to the first direction D1) may besubstantially parallel with the top surface TS and/or the bottom surfaceBS of the insulation layer 22, but not limited thereto. Additionally, inthis description, a distance between the bottom surface BS of theinsulation layer 22 and a relatively higher location and/or a relativelyhigher part in the vertical direction (such as the first direction D1)is greater than a distance between the bottom surface BS of theinsulation layer 22 and a relatively lower location and/or a relativelylower part in the first direction D1. The bottom or a lower portion ofeach component may be closer to the bottom surface BS of the insulationlayer 22 in the first direction D1 than the top or upper portion of thiscomponent. Another component disposed above a specific component may beregarded as being relatively far from the bottom surface BS of theinsulation layer 22 in the first direction D1, and another componentdisposed under a specific component may be regarded as being relativelycloser to the bottom surface BS of the insulation layer 22 in the firstdirection D1, but not limited thereto.

In some embodiments, the patterned conductive layer 34P may be directlyconnected with the first electrode BE physically and electrically, thepatterned conductive layer 34P may be separated from the secondelectrode TE physically and electrically, and the first dielectric layerDL1 may directly contact the first electrode BE, the second electrodeTE, and the patterned conductive layer 34P, but not limited thereto. Insome embodiments, when viewed in the first direction D1, the firstelectrode BE may overlap the second electrode TE in the first directionD1, and an area of the part of the first electrode BE overlapping thesecond electrode TE in the first direction D1 may be substantially equalto a projection area of the second electrode TE in the first directionD1, but not limited thereto. Additionally, in some embodiments, whenviewed in the first direction D1, a center point of the projection areaof the first electrode BE in the first direction D1 may overlap thepatterned conductive layer 34P in the first direction D1, and the firstdielectric layer DL1 disposed between the first electrode BE and thesecond electrode TE may be located at two opposite sides of thepatterned conductive layer 34P in the horizontal direction (such as thesecond direction D2), but not limited thereto.

In some embodiments, the material of the first electrode BE and thematerial of the second electrode TE may respectively include titanium(Ti), titanium nitride (TiN), tantalum (Ta), tantalum nitride (TaN), orother suitable electrically conductive materials. In addition, thematerial composition of the patterned conductive layer 34P differentfrom the material composition of the first electrode BE and the materialcomposition of the second electrode TE because the etching selectivitybetween the patterned conductive layer 34P and the first electrode BEand between the patterned conductive layer 34P and the second electrodeTE in the specific etching process is required for removing a part ofthe patterned conductive layer 34P so as to form a gap between the firstelectrode BE and the second electrode TE, and the first dielectric layerDL1 may then be formed in the gap for forming the capacitor unit CP. Forexample, the patterned conductive layer 34P may include aluminum, acompound containing aluminum, or other materials having required etchingselectivity with the material of the first electrode BE and the materialof the second electrode TE. When the material of the patternedconductive layer 34P is aluminum, the material of the first electrode BEand the second electrode TE may be titanium or titanium nitride, but notlimited thereto.

In some embodiments, the capacitor structure 101 may further include asecond dielectric layer DL2 disposed on the insulation layer 22 andcovering the capacitor unit CP, and a material composition of the seconddielectric layer DL2 may be identical to the material composition of thefirst dielectric layer DL1. In some embodiments, the second dielectriclayer DL2 may cover the capacitor unit CP in the vertical direction andthe horizontal direction, and the second dielectric layer DL2 may bedirectly connected with the first dielectric layer DL1. For example, thefirst dielectric layer DL1 may be a first portion 40A of a dielectricmaterial 40, the second dielectric layer DL2 may be a second portion 40Bof the dielectric material 40, and the second portion 40B may bedirectly connected with the first portion 40A. The dielectric layer 40may include a silicon oxide layer, such as a tetra-ethyl-ortho-silicate(TEOS) based silicon oxide layer with TEOS used as a precursor or otherdielectric materials having great gap-filling capability and/or highdielectric constant (high-k) for increasing the capacitance of thecapacitor unit CP, but not limited thereto.

In some embodiments, the capacitor structure 101 may further include anopening OP1 and a contact structure CT1. The opening OP1 may be disposedabove the patterned conductive layer 34P in the first direction D1 andpenetrate through the second dielectric layer DL2 located on the secondelectrode TE, the second electrode TE, and a part of the firstdielectric layer DL1 in the first direction D1, and a bottom portion ofthe opening OP1 may be connected with the patterned conductive layer34P. In addition, the contact structure CT1 may be partly disposed inthe opening OP1 and electrically connected with the first electrode BEvia the patterned conductive layer 34P. In some embodiments, thecapacitor structure 101 may further include a liner layer 41, adielectric material 42, and a contact structure CT2. The liner layer 41may be disposed on the second dielectric layer DL2 and partly disposedin the opening OP1, and the dielectric material 42 may be disposed onthe liner layer 41 and partly disposed in the opening OP1. Therefore, apart of the liner layer 41 and a part of the dielectric material 42 maybe disposed on the patterned conductive layer 34P in the first directionDl. In addition, an opening OP2 may penetrate through the dielectricmaterial 42 and the liner layer 41 located on the patterned conductivelayer 34P in the first direction D1, and another opening OP3 maypenetrate through the dielectric material 42, the liner layer 41, andthe second dielectric layer DL2 located on the second electrode TE inthe first direction D1. The contact structure CT1 and the contactstructure CT2 may be disposed in the opening OP2 and the opening OP3,respectively. The contact structure CT1 may contact and be electricallyconnected with the patterned conductive layer 34P, the contact structureCT2 may contact and be electrically connected with the second electrodeTE, and the opening OP2 may be partly located in the opening OP1. Insome embodiments, a part of the liner layer 41 and/or a part of thedielectric material 42 may be located between the contact structure CT1and the second electrode TE in the horizontal direction (such as thesecond direction D2) for electrically isolating the contact structureCT1 from the second electrode TE.

In some embodiments, the insulation layer 22 may include silicon oxide,silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, or other suitable insulationmaterials. The liner layer 41 may include nitride (such as siliconnitride) or other suitable insulation materials. The dielectric material42 may include silicon oxide, a low dielectric constant (low-k)dielectric material, or other suitable dielectric materials. The low-kdielectric material described above may be used to reduce the electricalinfluence between the contact structure CT1 and the contact structureCT2, the material composition of the dielectric material 42 may bedifferent from the material composition of the dielectric material 40accordingly, and the dielectric constant of the dielectric material 42may be lower than the dielectric constant of the dielectric material 40,but not limited thereto. Additionally, the contact structure CT1 and thecontact structure CT2 may include a barrier layer (not illustrated) anda low electrical resistivity material layer (not illustrated). Thebarrier layer may include titanium nitride, tantalum nitride, or othersuitable electrical conductive barrier materials, and the low electricalresistivity material may include a material having relatively lowelectrical resistivity, such as copper, aluminum, and tungsten, but notlimited thereto.

In some embodiments, the capacitor structure 101 may further include aIII-V compound layer 20, and the insulation layer 22 may be disposed onthe III-V compound layer 20 in the first direction D1. In someembodiments, a part of the III-V compound layer 20 may be used as aportion of a III-V compound transistor structure (such as a galliumnitride transistor), and the III-V compound layer 20 may includemultiple III-V compound layers (such as gallium nitride semiconductorlayer, aluminum gallium nitride layer, and so forth) stacked in thefirst direction D1, but not limited thereto. In some embodiments, themanufacturing process of the first dielectric layer DL1 in the capacitorunit CP and the second dielectric layer DL2 covering the capacitor unitCP may be integrated with a manufacturing process of a dielectric layerin the III-V compound transistor structure or a dielectric layer on theIII-V compound transistor structure for process simplification, but notlimited thereto. In some embodiments, the structure and/or themanufacturing process of the capacitor unit CP described above may alsobe integrated with the structure and/or the manufacturing process ofother kinds of active devices and/or passive devices according to somedesign considerations.

Please refer to FIGS. 2-7 and FIG. 1 . FIGS. 2-7 are schematic drawingsillustrating a manufacturing method of a capacitor structure accordingto an embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 3 is a schematicdrawing in a step subsequent to FIG. 2 , FIG. 4 is a schematic drawingin a step subsequent to FIG. 3 , FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing in a stepsubsequent to FIG. 4 , FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing in a stepsubsequent to FIG. 5 , FIG. 7 is a schematic drawing in a stepsubsequent to FIG. 6 , and FIG. 1 may be regarded as a schematic drawingin a step subsequent to FIG. 7 , but not limited thereto. As shown inFIG. 1 , the manufacturing method of the capacitor structure 101 mayinclude the following steps. The capacitor unit CP is formed on theinsulation layer 22. The capacitor unit CP includes the first electrodeBE, the second electrode TE, the first dielectric layer DL1, and thepatterned conductive layer 34P. The second electrode TE is disposedabove the first electrode BE in a vertical direction (such as the firstdirection D1). The first dielectric layer DL1 is disposed between thefirst electrode BE and the second electrode TE in the first directionD1. The patterned conductive layer 34P is disposed between firstelectrode BE and the second electrode TE. The patterned conductive layer34P is electrically connected with the first electrode BE, and the firstdielectric layer DL1 surrounds the patterned conductive layer 34P in ahorizontal direction (such as the second direction D2).

Specifically, the manufacturing method of the capacitor structure 101 inthis embodiment may include but is not limited to the following steps.Firstly, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 , a stacked structure ST may beformed on the insulation layer 22, and the stacked structure ST mayinclude the first electrode BE, the patterned conductive layer 34P, andthe second electrode TE. In some embodiments, the step of forming thestacked structure ST may include but is not limited to the followingsteps. A first conductive layer 32 is formed on the insulation layer 22,a second conductive layer 34 is formed on the first conductive layer 32,and a third conductive layer 36 is formed on the second conductive layer34. Subsequently, a patterning process 91 is performed to the thirdconductive layer 36, the second conductive layer 34, and the firstconductive layer 32. At least a part of the third conductive layer 36may be patterned to be the second electrode TE by the patterning process91, at least a part of the second conductive layer 34 may be patternedto be the patterned conductive layer 34P by the patterning process 91,and at least a part of the first conductive layer 32 may be patterned tobe the first electrode BE by the patterning process 91. In someembodiments, a patterned mask layer 80 may be formed on the thirdconductive layer 36, the patterning process 91 may be performed usingthe patterned mask layer 80 as an etching mask, and the patterningprocess 91 may include a single or a plurality of etching steps foretching the third conductive layer 36, the second conductive layer 34,and the first conductive layer 32, respectively, but not limitedthereto. In some embodiments, the first electrode BE, the patternedconductive layer 34P, and the second electrode TE in the stackedstructure ST may overlap one another in the first direction D1 havesubstantially the same projection area because the first electrode BE,the patterned conductive layer 34P, and the second electrode TE in thestacked structure ST may be formed by etching with the patterned masklayer 80, but not limited thereto. In addition, the patterned mask layer80 may be removed after the stacked structure ST is formed.

Subsequently, as shown in FIGS. 2-4 , a part of the patterned conductivelayer 34P may be removed by an etching process 92 for forming a gap(such as an air gap) G between the first electrode BE and the secondelectrode TE. In some embodiments, the etching process 92 may includeremoving the part of the patterned conductive layer 34P by water (suchas de-ionized water, DI water) reacting with a chloride residue CR onthe stacked structure ST for forming the gap G For example, when thematerial of the patterned conductive layer 34P is aluminum or a compoundcontaining aluminum, the chloride residue CR may include aluminumchloride (such as AlCl₃), the aluminum chloride may react with the waterso as to form hydrogen chloride (HCl), and the hydrogen chloride mayreact with aluminum of the patterned conductive layer 34P so as to formaluminum chloride. Therefore, the reaction mechanism described above maybe applied for etching the patterned conductive layer 34P, but notlimited thereto. In some embodiments, other suitable etching approacheshaving required etching selectivity between the patterned conductivelayer 34P and the first electrode BE and between the patternedconductive layer 34P and the second electrode TE may also be applied toform the gap G according to some design considerations. Additionally, insome embodiments, the patterning process 91 may include dry etchingsteps, the chloride residue CR described above may be generated by thepatterning process 91, and gas used in the patterning process 91 (suchas reaction gas used in the dry etching step) may includechlorine-containing gas, but not limited thereto. It is worth notingthat, after the step of forming the gap the remaining patternedconductive layer 34P still has to directly contact the first electrodeBE and the second electrode TE for supporting the second electrode TE.

As shown in FIGS. 4-6 , the first dielectric layer DL1 may be formed inthe gap G In some embodiments, the method of forming the dielectriclayer may include forming the dielectric material 40 on the insulationlayer 22. A part of the dielectric material 40 (such as the firstportion 40A) may be formed in the gap and another part of the dielectricmaterial 40 (such as the second portion 40B) may be formed on thestacked structure ST. The first dielectric layer DL1 may include thedielectric material 40 formed in the gap G (such as the first portion40A of the dielectric material 40), and the second portion 40B of thedielectric material 40 may be regarded as the second dielectric layerDL2, but not limited thereto. After the step of forming the dielectricmaterial 40, the opening OP1 may be formed above the patternedconductive layer 34P. The opening OP1 may penetrate through thedielectric material 40 on the stacked structure ST and the secondelectrode TE in the first direction D1, and a part of the patternedconductive layer 34P may be removed by the step of forming the openingOP1 for separating the patterned conductive layer 34P from the secondelectrode TE. In other words, the patterned conductive layer 34P may bedirectly connected with the second electrode TE after the step offorming the dielectric material 40 and before the step of forming theopening OP1, and the patterned conductive layer 34P may be separatedfrom the second electrode TE after the step of forming the opening OP1for forming the capacitor unit CP. In some embodiments, for removing thepart of the patterned conductive layer 34P and keeping the patternedconductive layer 34P from being electrically connected with the secondelectrode TE, the bottom width of the opening OP1 (such as a width W1shown in FIG. 6 ) may be greater than or equal to a width W2 of thepatterned conductive layer 34P, but not limited thereto. It is worthnoting that the manufacturing method of the capacitor unit CP in thisembodiment may include but is not limited to the above-mentionedmanufacturing steps corresponding to FIGS. 2-6 , and other suitablemanufacturing approaches may be applied to form the capacitor unit CPaccording to other design considerations. Additionally, when thecapacitor unit CP is formed by the manufacturing steps corresponding toFIGS. 2-6 described above, the capacitance of the capacitor unit CP maybe adjusted by changing the thickness of the second conductive layer 34.The demand for different product specifications of the capacitor unit CPmay be satisfied without changing the corresponding layout patternsaccordingly, and the cost of related design and/or manufacturing may bereduced.

As shown in FIG. 7 , after the opening OP1 and the capacitor unit CP areformed, the liner layer 41 and the dielectric material 42 may be formed.The liner layer 41 may be formed conformally on the second dielectriclayer DL2 and in the opening OP1, the dielectric material 42 may beformed on the liner layer 41, and the opening OP1 may be fully filledwith the liner layer 41 and the dielectric material 42. As shown in FIG.7 and FIG. 1 , after the step of forming the dielectric material 42, theopening OP2, the opening OP3, the contact structure CT1, and the contactstructure CT2 may be formed. In some embodiments, the liner layer 41 maybe used as an etching stop layer in the step of forming the opening OP2for improving the depth control of the opening OP2, but not limitedthereto. In some embodiments, the dielectric material 42 may be formedright after the step of forming the opening OP1 without forming theliner layer 41.

The following description will detail the different embodiments of thepresent invention. To simplify the description, identical components ineach of the following embodiments are marked with identical symbols. Formaking it easier to understand the differences between the embodiments,the following description will detail the dissimilarities amongdifferent embodiments and the identical features will not be redundantlydescribed.

Please refer to FIG. 8 and FIGS. 2-4 . FIG. 8 is a schematic drawingillustrating a manufacturing method of a capacitor structure accordingto another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 may be regardedas a schematic drawing in a step subsequent to FIG. 2 , and FIG. 3 maybe regarded as a schematic drawing in a step subsequent to FIG. 8 , butnot limited thereto. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 8 , in someembodiments, a treatment 93 may be performed after the patterningprocess 91 (i.e. after the step of forming the stacked structure ST) forforming the chloride residue CR on the stacked structure ST, such asforming the chloride residue CR on the sidewall of the patternedconductive layer 34P, but not limited thereto. In some embodiments, thetreatment 93 may include a plasma treatment or other suitable approachescapable of forming the chloride residue CR on the stacked structure ST,and the patterning process 91 and the treatment 93 may be carried outsequentially in the same process chamber, but not limited thereto.Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 8 , FIG. 3 , and FIG. 4 , the patternedmask layer 80 may be removed after the treatment 93, and the etchingprocess 92 may then be carried out for removing a part of the patternedconductive layer 34P and forming the gap G In other words, the treatment93 may be performed after the patterning process 91 shown in FIG. 2 andbefore the etching process 92 shown in FIG. 4 , and the chloride residueCR may be generated by the treatment 93.

Please refer to FIG. 9 . FIG. 9 is a schematic drawing illustrating acapacitor structure 102 according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 9 , in some embodiments, the capacitorstructure 102 may further include a substrate 10, a III-V compound layer21, source/drain structures SD, a gate structure GE, a dielectricmaterial 45, and a dielectric material 46. In some embodiments, theIII-V compound layer 20 may be disposed on the substrate 10, the III-Vcompound layer 21 may be disposed on the III-V compound layer 20, andthe gate structure GE may be disposed on the III-V compound layer 21.The insulation layer 22 and the dielectric material 40 may be partlydisposed on the sidewall of the III-V compound layer 21 and the sidewallof the gate structure GE, and the dielectric material 42 may be partlydisposed on the gate structure GE. In addition, the source/drainstructure SD may penetrate through the dielectric material 42, thedielectric material 40, and the insulation layer 22 for contacting theIII-V compound layer 20. The dielectric material 45 may be disposed onthe dielectric material 42, and the dielectric material 46 may bedisposed on the dielectric material 45. In some embodiments, thesubstrate 10 may include a silicon substrate, a silicon carbide (SiC)substrate, a gallium nitride substrate, a sapphire substrate, or asubstrate made of other suitable materials. The III-V compound layer 21may include p-type doped III-V compound, such as p-type doped galliumnitride, the gate structure GE and the source/drain structure SD mayrespectively include metallic conductive material or other suitableconductive materials, and the dielectric material 45 and the dielectricmaterial 46 may include a single layer or a plurality of dielectricmaterial layers, but not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the gatestructure GE, the source/drain structures SD, the III-V compound layer21, and the III-V compound layer 20 may be regarded as a part of atransistor unit GT, and the dielectric material 40 may be partlydisposed in the capacitor unit CP and partly disposed in the transistorunit GT for integrating the structure and/or the manufacturing processof the capacitor unit CP with that of the transistor unit GT, but notlimited thereto. In some embodiments, the capacitor unit CP may beformed after the step of forming the III-V compound layer 21 and beforethe step of forming the gate structure GE, but not limited thereto.

In some embodiments, the capacitor structure 102 may further include acontact structure CT3, a contact structure CT4, a contact structure CTS,a connection structure CS1, a connection structure CS2, a connectionstructure CS3, and a connection structure CS4. The contact structure CS3and the contact structure CT5 may penetrate through the dielectricmaterial 45 and the dielectric material 46 located above thesource/drain structures SD for being electrically connected with thecorresponding source/drain structure SD, respectively. The contactstructure CT4 may penetrate through the dielectric material 42, thedielectric material 45, and the dielectric material 46 located above thegate structure GE for being electrically connected with the gatestructure GE. In addition, the contact structure CT1 may penetratethrough the dielectric material 40, the dielectric material 42, thedielectric material 45, and the dielectric material 46 located above thepatterned conductive layer 34P for being electrically connected with thepatterned conductive layer 34P. The contact structure CT2 may penetratethrough the dielectric material 40, the dielectric material 42, thedielectric material 45, and the dielectric material 46 located above thesecond electrode TE for being electrically connected with the secondelectrode TE. In addition, each of the connection structures describedabove may be disposed on the dielectric layer 46. The connectionstructure CS1, the connection structure CS3, and the connectionstructure CS4 may be electrically connected with the contact structureCT1, the contact structure CT3, and the contact structure CT4,respectively. The connection structure CS2 may be electrically connectedwith the contact structure CT2 and the contact structure CTS, and one ofthe source/drain structures SD in the transistor unit GT may beelectrically connected with the second electrode TE of the capacitorunit CP via the contact structure CTS, the connection structure CS2, andthe contact structure CT2 accordingly, but not limited thereto. In someembodiments, the material composition of the contact structure CT3, thecontact structure CT4, and the contact structure CT5 may be similar tothat of the contact structure CT1, and each of the connection structuresdescribed above may include a metallic conductive material or othersuitable conductive materials.

Please refer to FIG. 10 . FIG. 10 is a schematic drawing illustrating acapacitor structure 103 according to a third embodiment of the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 10 , in some embodiments, the capacitorstructure 103 may further include a dielectric material 43 and adielectric material 44. The dielectric material 43 and the dielectricmaterial 44 may be disposed between the dielectric material 42 and thedielectric material 45, and the dielectric material 43 may be disposedbetween the dielectric material 42 and the dielectric material 44. Insome embodiments, the capacitor unit CP may be disposed on thedielectric material 42, and a part of the dielectric material 43 may beused as the first dielectric layer DL1 in the capacitor unit CP. In someembodiments, the manufacturing process of the first electrode BE, thepatterned conductive layer 34P, and/or the second electrode TE in thecapacitor unit CP may be integrated with that of the source/drainstructures SD for process simplification, but not limited thereto. Insome embodiments, the first electrode BE, the patterned conductive layer34P, and/or the second electrode TE in the capacitor unit CP may beformed on the dielectric layer 42 after the step of forming thesource/drain structure SD. Additionally, in some embodiments, thedielectric material 43 may include silicon oxide, such as TEOS basedsilicon oxide, high-k dielectric material, or other suitable dielectricmaterials, and the dielectric material 44 may include oxide dielectricmaterial, low-k dielectric material, or other suitable dielectricmaterials. Therefore, the dielectric constant of the dielectric material43 may be higher than that of the dielectric material 44, but notlimited thereto.

Please refer to FIG. 11 . FIG. 11 is a schematic drawing illustrating acapacitor structure 104 according to a fourth embodiment of the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 11 , in some embodiments, the capacitor unitCP may be disposed on the dielectric material 45, the dielectricmaterial 46 may include multiple dielectric layers, and a part of onedielectric layer in the dielectric material 46 (such as the bottommostdielectric layer) may be used as the first dielectric layer DL1. In someembodiments, an interconnection structure (not illustrated) may bedisposed on the dielectric material 45, the manufacturing process of thefirst electrode BE, the patterned conductive layer 34P, and/or thesecond electrode TE in the capacitor unit CP may be integrated with thatof the interconnection structure for process simplification and/orreducing the influence of the area occupied by the capacitor unit CP,and the manufacturing process of the capacitor unit CP may be regardedas being integrated with the back end of line (BEOL) process, but notlimited thereto. In addition, the capacitor unit CP in the capacitorstructure shown in FIG. 9 and the capacitor unit CP in the capacitorstructure shown in FIG. 10 may be regarded as being integrated with thefront end of line (FEOL) process, but not limited thereto.

To summarize the above descriptions, according to the capacitorstructure and the manufacturing method thereof in the present invention,the dielectric layer and the patterned conductive layer may be disposedbetween the first electrode and the second electrode of the capacitorunit, and the dielectric layer surrounds the patterned conductive layerfor simplifying related manufacturing processes of the capacitor unitand improving the process integration between the capacitor unit andother semiconductor units.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerousmodifications and alterations of the device and method may be made whileretaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the abovedisclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and boundsof the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A capacitor structure, comprising: an insulation layer; and a capacitor unit disposed on the insulation layer, wherein the capacitor unit comprises: a first electrode; a second electrode disposed above the first electrode in a vertical direction; a first dielectric layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode in the vertical direction; a patterned conductive layer disposed between first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the patterned conductive layer is electrically connected with the first electrode, and the first dielectric layer surrounds the patterned conductive layer in a horizontal direction; and an opening disposed above the patterned conductive layer and penetrating through the second electrode in the vertical direction, wherein the opening is directly connected with the second electrode and the patterned conductive layer.
 2. The capacitor structure according to claim 1, wherein a material composition of the patterned conductive layer is different from a material composition of the first electrode and a material composition of the second electrode.
 3. The capacitor structure according to claim 1, wherein the patterned conductive layer comprises aluminum.
 4. The capacitor structure according to claim 1, wherein the patterned conductive layer is directly connected with the first electrode, and the patterned conductive layer is separated from the second electrode.
 5. The capacitor structure according to claim 1, further comprising: a contact structure partly disposed in the opening and electrically connected with the first electrode via the patterned conductive layer.
 6. The capacitor structure according to claim 1, further comprising: a second dielectric layer disposed on the insulation layer and covering the capacitor unit, wherein a material composition of the second dielectric layer is identical to a material composition of the first dielectric layer.
 7. The capacitor structure according to claim 6, wherein the first dielectric layer is a first portion of a dielectric material, the second dielectric layer is a second portion of the dielectric material, and the second portion is directly connected with the first portion.
 8. The capacitor structure according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal direction and the vertical direction are orthogonal.
 9. The capacitor structure according to claim 1, further comprising: a III-V compound layer, wherein the insulation layer is disposed on the III-V compound layer.
 10. The capacitor structure according to claim 1, wherein a center point of a projection area of the first electrode in the vertical direction overlaps the patterned conductive layer when the capacitor structure is viewed in the vertical direction. 